Pets' Pastimes & Birdwatching

Ever have one of those weeks where you know you've been busy, but feel like you have next-to-nothing to show for it?...and can't even really remember what you did this week?  I feel like I'm having one of those weeks.  Just trying to keep up with everyday life.  But let us pause and contemplate the simple life of pets...

 Luna has been enjoying walks in the backyard...and wandering over to the neighboring abandoned house's overgrown backyard...annoying to live next to, but good for taking pictures of a little dog bounding through the high grass and dandelion puffs.)

Terra has been enjoying looking out the window at the birds on the birdfeeders.  It's been almost as much fun watching her watch the birds (doing her little "chatter" at them) as it's been watching the birds themselves.

I've been getting lots of goldfinches...just like last year.  I've started trying to keep the camera on the table so I can get pictures of "new" birds.  I've been getting a lot of goldfinches, house finches/purple finches, and sparrows.  

I got a rose-breasted grosbeak one day, which was trying to get to my "squirrel-proof" bird feeder (above). (the "squirrel proof" feeders have a cage around the tube feeder that keeps squirrels and large birds out, but lets small birds in).  I didn't know what kind of bird it was when I saw it, and had to ask my bird-expert Grandma what it was when she happened to visit a few days later.  I'm pretty sure I saw a female oriole one day (but my camera was in the other room...by the time I went to get it, she was gone).  A woodpecker with a little red cap was out there a few days ago, but he was too fast.  By the time I clicked the shutter, all I got was a shot of the feeder and a blur of a wing in the corner of the frame.  I've having fun seeing all the "new" species that have found my feeders this year!

Still no blue/indigo bunting.  Although I swear I saw one a few weeks ago in my friend's driveway before it fluttered away! 

Terra's Sister

There is a kitten at the farm right now that looks almost exactly like Terra when she was younger...

That's because she is Terra's younger "sister". The little girl at the farm has named her "Hannah".

One of the little girls at church yesterday actually thought it was Terra and asked me, "Why did you bring your kitty today?" I had to explain to her that it was Terra's "little sister".

Her eyes are a slightly different color (Terra's are more of a yellowish green), and the edges of her ears are darker. And of course, since she's younger (and an outside cat) she is a lot skinnier than Terra is right now.

But, despite being a "barn cat" she is a very friendly little cat. She still has a bit of the typical barn cat skittishness (just the slight noise of my camera turning on or focusing seemed to spook her a bit), but despite that, she is one of the few newer cats at the farm that is most likely to snuggle up next to you and let you pet her! Most of the other cats barely tolerate people to get close to them.

Sewing on the porch...

I swear that Western New York really only has two seasons...Winter and Summer...and Spring and Fall just gets crammed into a few days between the two. Most of April has been very wintery...rainy and cold...and even some snow. Today was one of the first days it was nice and warm. It was in the upper 70's all day. So rather than sitting inside in my craft room, I decided to sit on the porch to enjoy the warm breeze and work on some hand sewing that needs to get done before Mayday Underground on Saturday.

It was so warm that I busted out my favorite summer dress that I got at the Lilac Festival last year. (I'd love to get some more of them this year!)

Some owls that need their heads sewn up...and a monster that needs a pucker in his lips.

My animals seemed to enjoy being on the porch too. Luna, for some reason, decided that her favorite spot was right under my rocking chair.

Terra loves the porch...since we've decided to keep her an inside cat and the porch is the closest she ever gets to being outside. She was in a few different places...on the window sills watching and "chattering" at the birds outside ...in the blue "telephone chair" that I picked up off the curb this past fall and am planning on refinishing this summer...

But her favorite place was on the floor in the sunbeam. I got on the floor and took some really nice close-up pictures of her....but I'll share them tomorrow.

Macro Kitty

My cat is just too photogenic.

Who's a pretty kitty?

Anyone who knows me is not surprised at the last shot. I have a thing for eyes. It's actually surprising that it's taken me so long to get a shot like this.

I love the macro setting on my camera.

Sleepy Kitty

Check out who I found snoozing in my craft room on my chair...

My craft room has recently been Terra's favorite place to hang out during the day. But usually she's hanging out in front of the window, looking at the birds outside. I was surprised when I walked in to do some crafting, and she was in my chair! (it must be because of that cozy handmade throw my grandma gave me!) And how could I bear to disturb such sleepy kitty cuteness? So, naturally, instead of moving her, I took pictures!

Don't worry though, I did get some crafting in. I'll try to take some pictures of what I did and post them later.

Pets on the Porch

My pets love the porch. I think it's because it's the next best thing to being outside. Terra especially likes it because we decided to keep her inside cat for her own safety (being right on a busy road), but her natural instinct makes her want to go outside so bad! (and we always want what we cannot have!) With the weather being nice lately, we keep the front door open and spend a lot more time out there.

One of these days, I saw Terra stretched out on the floor and I decided to take some pictures of her.

But then of course, jealous doggy Luna had to butt in for some attention.

Terra got annoyed and relocated to the rocking chair.

One of her other favorite places is the sock monkey pet bed my mom bought for us, since she knows how much I love sock monkeys. Mom bought it originally for Luna to use, but Luna is slightly too big for it (Plus, when we first brought it home, Luna thought it was a stuffed toy she could play with, and she tends to destroy stuffed toys with her rigorous play.)

But, seeing the cat sleep in it must have given her a clue, because I found her like this one day! Mom says it looks like she's tackled the sock monkey from the Kia car commercial.

Belated Christmas Tree Post

Here's a belated look at our Christmas tree. This post is specially for my Grandma. My parents visited her this weekend and Mom informed me today that Grandma wanted to see pictures of my tree this year. Here you go Grandma!

We had the tree on the porch...since we weren't sure where else to put it, and we weren't going to be home for Christmas anyway.

I've always wanted one of these peacock clip-on ornaments. I found this one on sale at JoAnne's.

My sister-in-law gave us this ornament for Christmas.

And she gave us a set of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ornaments a few years ago. It has baby Rudolph...

And grown up Rudolph!

And of course, the Abominable Snowman is at the top of the tree because he helps put the star up.

Kitty being curious about the tree...

She was very good and didn't even try and climb up it. (for fear of the dreaded squirt bottle!)

Luna likes the tree too!

Weakened By The Cuteness!

We inturrupt your regularly scheduled blog entries for a Cuteness Alert!

You can't escape it! Just succumb to the cuteness!